Commission Decides Against Inwood CRA

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:22 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:22 a.m.

BARTOW | County commissioners rejected the idea Friday of forming a Community Redevelopment Agency in the Inwood area.

County Commissioner Ed Smith proposed the idea as a way to raise funds to fix infrastructure problems and to combat blight in this largely residential area between Winter Haven and Auburndale.

“It’s the only way to turn it around,’’ Smith said.

The district would involve a 1,592-acre area bounded by Avenue G Northwest, Havendale Boulevard, 26th Street Northwest and 42nd Street.

The CRA, which is funded by tax proceeds from the increase in property values over time, would raise only $6 million over the next 30 years.

The area is primarily residential with some commercial and industrial on the periphery.

County officials have spent $4.6 million already on projects ranging from drainage and roads to parks and sidewalks and are scheduled to spend an additional $4.5 million over the next five years.

Smith said he was trying to revive efforts by former Commissioner Marlene Young to bring improvements to the area, including extension of sewer lines from Winter Haven, which he said residents overwhelming opposed at the time.

Commissioner George Lindsey said the CRA is unnecessary and could raise false hopes.

“There will be a false perception that we’re doing something,” he said. “I would not support another bureaucracy.”

Lindsey said he didn’t see any broad community support for the idea.

Commissioner John Hall said the CRA would take too long to generate money to accomplish anything.

He said he has spoken with County Manager Jim Freeman and said the trend is to re-examine existing CRAs to make sure they’re still a good idea.

The other CRAs in unincorporated Polk County are Eloise, Harden Parkway, North Ridge and Polk Commerce Centre.

Commissioners said instead that they should continue to use federal grant funds and county code enforcement to deal with problems in the neighborhood.

<p>BARTOW | County commissioners rejected the idea Friday of forming a Community Redevelopment Agency in the Inwood area.</p><p>County Commissioner Ed Smith proposed the idea as a way to raise funds to fix infrastructure problems and to combat blight in this largely residential area between Winter Haven and Auburndale.</p><p>“It's the only way to turn it around,'' Smith said.</p><p>The district would involve a 1,592-acre area bounded by Avenue G Northwest, Havendale Boulevard, 26th Street Northwest and 42nd Street. </p><p>The CRA, which is funded by tax proceeds from the increase in property values over time, would raise only $6 million over the next 30 years.</p><p>The area is primarily residential with some commercial and industrial on the periphery.</p><p>County officials have spent $4.6 million already on projects ranging from drainage and roads to parks and sidewalks and are scheduled to spend an additional $4.5 million over the next five years.</p><p>Smith said he was trying to revive efforts by former Commissioner Marlene Young to bring improvements to the area, including extension of sewer lines from Winter Haven, which he said residents overwhelming opposed at the time.</p><p>Commissioner George Lindsey said the CRA is unnecessary and could raise false hopes.</p><p>“There will be a false perception that we're doing something,” he said. “I would not support another bureaucracy.”</p><p>Lindsey said he didn't see any broad community support for the idea.</p><p>Commissioner John Hall said the CRA would take too long to generate money to accomplish anything.</p><p>He said he has spoken with County Manager Jim Freeman and said the trend is to re-examine existing CRAs to make sure they're still a good idea.</p><p>The other CRAs in unincorporated Polk County are Eloise, Harden Parkway, North Ridge and Polk Commerce Centre.</p><p>Commissioners said instead that they should continue to use federal grant funds and county code enforcement to deal with problems in the neighborhood.</p>